HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL: Irish bats come to life, beat Nottingham

HAMILTON — Although it is also strong in other areas, the one thing you know about the Notre Dame High School softball team is it can hit.

Following a quiet opening day victory, this was point was put on full display yesterday as the Irish erupted for 11 hits and beat Nottingham, 9-4, to up their record to 2-0.

“I don’t want to say we were flat, but we did not swing the bats well the other day (against Lawrence),’’ said Notre Dame coach Artie Kearns. “When we fell behind today our captain Lexi (Chianese) called the team together and urged everyone to get going. The team really responded to that.’’

To set the stage, Nottingham (1-2) took the lead in the bottom of the third when it scored twice. A walk to No. 9 batter Tori Sanchez opened the door for the Northstars, who took advantage when Val Suto was hit by a pitch, Kristin Hallam stroked an RBI single and Alyssa James put down a perfect suicide squeeze.

Urged on by their senior captain. Notre Dame quickly replied against Nottingham’s fine freshman pitcher Hallam when Tori Fantozzi singled and scored on the first of four big Nottingham errors. Sarah Coyne, who had a great game out of the lead-off spot with three hits and a sac fly, then tied the game in the fourth with an RBI single.

This led to the top of the fifth as Notre Dame took complete control with a four spot behind the two biggest bats in its lineup.

Namley, standout sophomore catcher Maddie Schafer and Chianese. In that fifth, Schafer singled hard to left field as part of her perfect 4-for-4 day that included a two-run triple when the Irish tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh. Chianese, meanwhile, blasted a long double to center field in the fifth to set the stage for a successful squeeze by Fantozzi and RBI singles by Alexis Wiggley and freshman Amanda Ferlisi. Coyne then lofted her sac fly to put the Irish ahead 6-3.

“Sarah is a junior who broke into our lineup about five games into her freshman season.’’ said Kearns. “We really like her in the lead-off spot. She’s a lefty and she does not get rattled when she has two strikes against her.’’

While all of this was going on, Notre Dame sophomore Julia Tosti did a solid job in her first start of the year. Other than the two runs in the third, Tosti was in control until she walked two batters in the sixth innings. In her five and half innings of work, Tosti gave up just two hits and most impressively struck out 10 Northstars. Ferlisi came on in relief of Tosti and gave up two runs when James smacked a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh.

The depth of the two teams was apparent as Notre Dame got contributions from up and down its lineup. The last four batters in Nottingham’s lineup, by contrast, struck out six times in 11 at bats.

It’s going to be an interesting to see how Notre Dame does with so many players back from last year’s 21-win season. Among the additions to the schedule is a touted Williamstown team in the opening round of next weekend’s Rancocas Valley Tournament.

“Hitting is contagious,’’ said Kearns. “Hopefully we will keep it going.’’